by Piper Stone
“Where would I go, Rafael?” Savannah asked, shifting until she could ease out of bed. She grabbed her robe, turning completely away from me. “We’re in the middle of nowhere. Besides, I was happier here in the few hours we shared than I’ve been for years.” She darted a single glance in my direction, offering an almost embarrassed smile.
Standing, I gripped her arm. “Just promise me, Savannah. Do not leave this house. That’s the only way I can ensure your safety.”
She tipped her head, placing her hand on my heart. “I’m not going anywhere. Perhaps you’ll have to trust me this time.”
I cupped her chin, issuing a husky growl. “I do with my life, Savannah, but even after what you’ve been through, you want to believe the best in people. I learned a long time ago that if I chose to do so, I could lose the battle, allowing others the possibility of crushing all I’ve worked for.”
“How sad, Rafael, but you’re right. I want to believe the best in people, but I’m not naïve. There is true evil in this world, often in the last place you look.” She shook her head, sadness filling her eyes.
Truer words were never said.
As I let her go, I walked closer to the nightstand, grabbing the second weapon, one I’d selected for her. When she turned on the light, I could see her reflection as she noticed what was in my hand. I turned slowly, hopeful I was making the right decision. I’d pulled her identification from her wallet, securing it in a separate location. I did trust her, perhaps more than common sense would allow, but I also was no fool.
Maybe I was too jaded.
“I refuse to leave you without protection,” I said as I handed it to her. “If what you told me is true, you’ll have no trouble using this if absolutely necessary.”
Inhaling, she stared at it for a few seconds before accepting, immediately checking the ammunition. “You have excellent tastes in more than just wine.” Once satisfied, she shoved it onto the nightstand, taking several deep breaths. “This is your world. I almost forgot that it will always be filled with danger and ammunition.”
“I didn’t sugarcoat it for you. I told you the truth.”
“Yes, I know you did and I appreciate that.” She inched closer, staring into my eyes, hers even more troubled than before. “What if you don’t come back?”
“I assure you that won’t happen, but I have a contingency plan in case there’s an issue.” At least a member of the family would know if this was just another moment of sabotage. “If there is an issue, my enforcers will make certain you get back to the States.”
“Don’t. I can’t listen to that right now,” she whispered. “Just don’t let anything happen, Rafael, and remember that you do have choices, no matter how difficult they might be to make.” She kissed me on the cheek, allowing her lips to brush back and forth. “And I do love you.”
Her whisper was far too gut-wrenching, yanking me into another dark moment.
“Nothing is going to happen to me,” I huffed. “You seem to forget who I am and what I can do.”
I pulled her into an embrace, capturing her lips, allowing the kiss to be nothing but a gentle reminder.
She pushed her palms against me, breaking the moment of intimacy. “I will never forget, Rafael. Never.”
I’d never had to say goodbye to a woman who I hoped to return for any reason. Leaving had always meant on a permanent basis and I’d never looked back. Not once. This time left me with heartache, as well as uncertainty. Calleja no doubt felt like he’d cornered a rat, savoring the way he could toss mere crumbs through the steel bars.
It was time to turn the tables.
“There is a hidden room that I want you to go to in case of trouble.”
“A hidden room?”
I nodded, a coldness settling into my system. “I’ll show you how to get into it. Once inside and locked in, only you can release the door.”
“I hate this,” she whispered.
“Arm the security system when I leave,” I instructed, watching her mixed reactions.
“You’re beginning to frighten me,” she said wistfully.
“All of this will become second nature to you.” I brushed my knuckles across her cheek, inhaling her sweet fragrance that I’d carry with me.
“No, I don’t think it will.” She trailed behind me as I showed her the way to access the room, folding her arms and wincing as I turned on the light.
“Do you understand?”
Swallowing, she stared at the opening. “I get it.”
After closing down the room, I walked toward the door, wanting nothing more than to stay with her.
“The system is easy to use. I will knock three times then a pause and two more short knocks. Only then will you disarm and unlock the door. Do you understand?”
She gave me a faraway look before finally nodding. “I think I can handle that.”
The rebellious girl had returned, forcing my cock to ache. As I slipped out the door, I waited until I heard the lock engage before walking away.
My father had told me on at least two occasions that the reason he was such a strong leader was because he knew he could come home to my mother. Today was the only time I realized what he’d told me was undoubtedly the truth.
We all had weaknesses.
But not all of us were lucky enough to find salvation.
* * *
Gothic buildings. My love of the architecture was well known, the location of where the informant had been taken not lost on me. However, I wondered who’d actually selected the crumbling church, which had been closed for several years. The light of morning had drifted across the horizon, allowing a warm glow against the ancient stone.
The beauty of the aging building was breathtaking in detail and design, much like the location where the nightmare had truly begun less than two weeks before. It was fitting this would be the beginning of the end. I walked inside, tipping my head as the creaking sound indicated movement within the massive roof timbers. While considered a historic site, preserved by a score of caretakers, there was fear the entire structure would collapse from recent torrential rains.
It would also be fitting to have the body of a true sinner buried in the rubble. A smile crossed my face as I walked into the former congregation hall. Everything of value had been stripped by looters before the massive wooden doors had been chained. That certainly hadn’t kept my enforcers from finding a way inside.
The incredible room still held a few signs of its former glory, the dark stained columns carved with glorious detail. Even the pulpit remained, although no longer adorned with the various religious symbols and decorations. However, I remembered the few times I’d been here as a boy, the wondrous feeling of magic I’d had by simply walking into the room.
Walking in this time was almost as cathartic, still giving me a sense of enchantment. The informant had been tied to a chair, a bag placed over his head. He’d been detained overnight, Montego handling the situation as he’d been trained.
As I walked closer, my boots echoing on the broken wooden slats, various musty odors assaulted my nostrils. Aging wood, decay, and mold mixed with a fresher stench. Urine. I shook my head, gritting my teeth. While punishing a traitor was necessary to keep order, I loathed the weakness in men who usually begged for their lives. There was no salvation for their blackened souls.
Not within the Galicia mafia.
“Boss,” Montego said quietly out of respect.
I glanced around at the group of men, the majority low-level soldiers who took orders from Montego. The life of a traitorous bastard was never easy. There were always people on the streets ready to sell their soul for a few bucks or the possibility of advancement within the organization. All the fucker had to do was brag to the wrong person. This particular situation had been no different. One drink too many.
“Remove the cloak,” I instructed, keeping my tone even. I walked up the few stairs, now standing only a few feet from him.
“Sorry, boss. He resisted. Had to teach him
a lesson,” Montego said as he moved forward, untying the thick rope surrounding the fucker’s neck.
I stood where I was, uncertain of exactly what I wanted to say to him. He’d been with the organization since I could remember, working closely by my side since coming up through the ranks.
When Montego jerked off the canvas covering, the informant gasped, coughing several times. As Montego backed away, I studied the bruised face of the man and exhaled. “Jorge.”
Jorge struggled to lift his head, taking gasping breaths as blood trickled from his mouth. He sniffed, coughing several additional times before his body began to shake.
I’d never seen true fear in the man before. I did on this glorious morning.
I’d been prepared to face him for over two hours yet seeing the betraying asshole created a level of rage I hadn’t anticipated.
“Rafael,” Jorge managed, wheezing from saying the single word.
He’d been worked over as I would have anticipated, his face swollen, one eye barely open. I walked closer, controlling my anger.
For now.
“He said shit to us, boss,” Montego stated, cursing under his breath. “The fucker won’t admit what I know to be true.”
“That’s he’s a lying sack of shit?” I asked jokingly. “That he betrayed an organization who paid him well, funding his yacht and all the whores he spends money on?” I made it my business to know the proclivities of every enforcer in my organization. There were obvious reasons why.
“I didn’t betray you,” Jorge murmured. “That’s not what’s happening here.” His words were muffled.
“Not what’s happening here.” I sniffed as I walked around him, standing directly behind before slamming my boot against the back of the chair. He tumbled out, pitching down the flight of stairs, the hard thud echoing. I took my time walking toward him step by step, yanking him off the floor by the back of his neck.
Montego followed, grabbing and righting the chair.
I slammed Jorge back into the seat, wiping my mouth as I paced the aisle. “I’m in no mood for games, Jorge. You are the one who’s been feeding Calleja information regarding our shipments including times, dates, and berth locations.”
Jorge’s body shook as he attempted to slow his breathing, the wheezing sound annoying as fuck. “That’s not... No.”
I closed my eyes for a moment then opened them, gazing up at the massive beams crossing the ceiling. The hard punch I gave to his kidneys was enough to force a gasp spewing from his mouth. When I backhanded him, once again knocking him off the chair, he whimpered.
I honestly hated this shit, the need for violence not something I enjoyed, no matter the circumstances. However, word couldn’t get out on the street that one of my own had betrayed me for months, months unless I dealt with him personally. Fucking months. I couldn’t believe I’d been that stupid. He’d been damn good, playing both sides while allowing Calleja time to put his soldiers in place for a shutdown of our operations.
Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.
Jorge had been the one to receive the information regarding the meeting at the restaurant in A Coruna, luring me into ending innocent lives.
Once again, Montego righted him into position, yanking back and holding his head. I could tell just how angry Montego was, as all the men should be.
“Now, I’m going to ask you exactly when Calleja is planning on striking and you’re going to tell me. And I assure you, Jorge, I’ll know if you’re lying.”
Jorge took his damn time sucking in his breath, finally looking me directly in the eyes. “My only... betrayal was... not telling you... the... truth.”
This was getting us nowhere. “Are you trying to tell me that you didn’t provide information on our shipments?”
“No, I...”
I wrapped my hand around his throat, squeezing with enough force Jorge attempted to flail, gasping as his face reddened.
“Please...” he begged.
I kept the pressure while I counted to five, finally releasing him. As I walked away, I tried to figure out why he’d bother to lie at this point. He was no fool. Hell, he’d been the one to handle more than once traitorous pig during his illustrious career.
“Please what, Jorge? Spare your life? You know that’s not something I can do.”
“Talk to me. Alone,” he answered.
I was actually intrigued by the request. There was nothing he could say, nowhere he could run. I turned and studied him, debating what kind of information he had that was worth dying for. “What the hell. Montego, leave us alone.”
“Are you sure, boss?”
“I’m certain.”
Montego looked uncomfortable but motioned the others, leading them out of the room. I waited, moving against one of the columns.
“Okay, what do you need to tell me?”
Jorge dragged his swollen tongue across his split lips, taking shallow breaths. “This isn’t... what you think.”
“Hmmm... All right. You’re trying to tell me that you didn’t provide information to Alviro Calleja?”
“No.”
I laughed, dropping my head. “O-kay. I’m not certain what kind of game you’re playing, but I don’t have much time. I’m well aware that the asshole is preparing some strike against our ships. As you might imagine, that pisses me the fuck off!” My bellow echoed in the open space, creating a wave of anger sweeping through my system.
His shoulders heaved as his breathing became more difficult. As I watched him struggle, all I could think about was Savannah’s words. A choice. Yes, I had a choice to make and one that was more difficult than I wanted to admit. Jorge had been as close to a friend as I’d experienced, sharing laughs, scotch, and weighty decisions all. I found it hard to believe that he’d gone to these lengths to betray our family. Whoever Calleja was must have the man by the balls.
Either that or the price paid was well worth the possibility of losing his life.
Jorge had a wife and two children, his love and pride for them unlike anything I’d ever seen. I looked away, disgusted with the entire situation. “I believed in and trusted you, Jorge. I just don’t understand. Was the money that precious to you? Is there something wrong with your kids? I would have helped if you’d come to me.”
Even from the distance, I could see tears trickling from the corners of his eyes. As he coughed again, another string of blood sliding down his chin, I knew he likely didn’t have long. I walked closer, crouching down until he was allowed to look down into my eyes. “Talk to me, Jorge. What in the fuck happened?”
“I had no choice. I thought it was... by the time I realized, it was too late.”
“What was too late?”
He began to sob, his chest heaving.
“What did Alviro Calleja do to you?”
“Nothing!” he yelled as loudly as his parched and damaged throat would allow.
“Is Calleja Don Francesco Piero?” I watched his face twisting as he processed the question, giving me the answer without even saying a word.
“You don’t understand,” he insisted.
“I believe I do.”
The sound of thudding feet brought a snarl to my lips. I snapped my head in the direction, yanking the SIG from my holster.
Montego held up his arms, still closing the distance, his face twisted. “Boss, we have a problem. Fuck. I had no idea.”
I took a deep breath, closing my eyes then redirecting my attention to Jorge. “Then help me understand, Jorge. This. Is. Your. Last. Chance.”
“There is... no Alviro... Calleja.”
Chapter Sixteen
Savannah
Light.
Sun.
Warmth.
I stood at the window as the warm glow sent what appeared to be a blaze of fire across the ocean water. The colors splashing across the sky were incredible, the palette more vivid than I’d ever seen before. I was mesmerized, pretending that I was waiting for my lover’s arrival, a perfect day at the beach planned.
&
nbsp; Instead of what I knew would be another hunt, danger following us around every curve. I’d stared out the front window after Rafael had left, maybe hoping I’d see headlights, even though I’d known better. He was going to do his job.
Also known as killing another human being.
I wasn’t as incensed as only a few days before, the knowledge of what he did no more shocking than all the treacherous acts my stepfather had performed. Evil walked inside everyone. At least that’s what my mother used to say.
Sinners and saints.
I was a little bit of both.
A nervous laugh escaped my lips, thirst forcing me to leave my beautiful perch. Coffee was in order. I’d thrown on a tee shirt and sweatpants, remnants from some previous visit. I couldn’t help but wonder whether the clothes belonged to Rafael. I stood staring down at the weapon he’d left before taking the Glock into my hand. The moment brought back both pleasant and excruciating memories.
The great stepfather had insisted that both Lily and I learn how to shoot. My mother had been totally against the idea, even vocalizing her disapproval. The argument my sister and I had witnessed had turned into the first time Wallace had smacked my mother hard enough she’d been tossed into a wall.
The next few years only escalated the violence as the asshole’s drinking had gotten worse.
I turned the gun back and forth. The weight felt good in my grasp, even creating a false sense of security. Maybe the asshole had at least been good for something after all.
As I walked into the kitchen, I tugged the hem of the shirt to my nose, inhaling deeply, longing once again to feel close to Rafael. Only the scent of Tide or some other detergent wafted back to me.
I was surprised just how disappointed I was, longing to find something that kept me close to him. I carefully placed the gun on the counter, pushing it all the way toward the backsplash with a single finger. For all my bravado, the defiance that naturally spewed from my mouth, I’d also realized that I wasn’t a killer.
